UNIFIL: Israeli forces crossed Blue Line, ‘destroyed’ main base gate
The United Nations said Israeli tanks burst through the gates of its peacekeeping force base in southern Lebanon after three platoons of Israeli soldiers crossed the Blue Line.
The UN peacekeepers said in a statement two Israeli army Merkava tanks “destroyed” their main gate and “forcibly entered the position” while peacekeepers were asleep.
“The tanks left about 45 minutes later after UNIFIL protested through our liaison mechanism, saying [the Israeli military] presence was putting peacekeepers in danger,” it said.
Peacekeepers also reported several rounds being fired about 100 meters (328 feet) north of their position in what appeared to be an attack with some sort of chemical agent.
“Despite putting on protective masks, 15 peacekeepers suffered effects including skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions after the smoke entered the camp. The peacekeepers are receiving treatment.”
The Israeli army must obey its “obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property” at the Lebanon border, the force said after the latest attack.
“Breaching and entering a UN position is a further flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701,” UNIFIL said in a statement.
On Saturday, Israeli soldiers “stopped a critical UNIFIL logistical movement near Mais al-Jabal, denying it passage”, the force said, referring to an area in south Lebanon.
A UNIFIL spokesman said that the mission would stay in place despite five of its peacekeepers being wounded and damage to their facilities in Israel’s war on Lebanon.
UNIFIL said Israeli tank fire on Thursday caused two Indonesian peacekeepers to fall off a watch tower in Naqura.
The following day it said explosions close to an observation tower in Naqura wounded two Sri Lankan Blue Helmets.
On Saturday UNIFIL said a peacekeeper in Naqura “was hit by gunfire” on Friday night.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the UN chief Antonio Guterres on Sunday to move peacekeepers deployed in south Lebanon out of “harm’s way”, claiming Hezbollah was using them as “human shields”.
“Mr Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately,” Netanyahu said in a video statement issued by his office.
UNIFIL has refused to leave its positions in southern Lebanon.
“There was a unanimous decision to stay because it’s important for the UN flag to still fly high in this region, and to be able to report to the Security Council,” UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti told AFP in an interview on Saturday.
Forty countries contributing to the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon demand an immediate halt to Israel’s attacks on peacekeepers.
UNIFIL is tasked with monitoring a cease-fire that ended a 33-day war in 2006 between Israel and Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah. It was first established as an interim force in 1978 to confirm Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.
Hezbollah and Israeli army have been exchanging fire since last October, when the Israeli regime began bringing Gaza under a genocidal war. Israeli attacks on Lebanon have claimed the lives of more than 2,000 Lebanese so far.